WestRock announced the acquisition of the Hanna Group Pty Ltd (Hannapak), in North Richmond, the largest privately-owned, family operated company manufacturing folding cartons, in August.
Hannapak services a variety of markets, including, food, confectionary, healthcare, including WestRock’s beverage packaging customers.
“Hannapak has built an outstanding folding carton business in Australia based on their superior capabilities and customer service,” said Steve Voorhees, chief executive officer, of WestRock, at the time of the acquisition.
“We have a strong relationship with the company and the Hanna family based on an 18-year partnership. This acquisition expands our geographic footprint to better serve global and local customers,”
Hannapak will be renamed WestRock Oceania Pty Ltd, in December and its Australian office in Baulkham Hills expects to move to North Richmond, in January 2018.
Charles Alfred Stuart Hanna Snr and his son, Charles Hanna, founded the 60-year-old business, in 1957, making printed advertising balloons from a small factory behind their home in Carlingford.
The business moved to North Richmond in 1967, into a purpose-built factory and began trading as Hanna Match Group producing Redhead Safety Matches, a product of Bryant & May, a Victorian-based match manufacturer, which was first used on matchbox packaging in 1947.
The name Redheads was derived from the red striking head of the matches and the logo on the matchbox depicted the head and shoulder of a redheaded woman, who become known as "Miss Redhead”.
Production ceased in the early 1980s as a result of import competition, with the iconic Redhead matches now imported from Sweden.
Looking for the next growth opportunity and product diversification, Charles Hanna purchased folding carton manufacturing company, Boxton & Carr, in 1984, which was relocated to the North Richmond facility and incorporated into the group as Hannapak.
